Clamp



A. J. BROLING.

CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I9, 1914.

1 1 94,943 Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

g rvuento z wihweooeo ANDREW J. BROLING, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

Application filed May 19, 1914. Serial No. 839,549.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in clamps, and has for its principal object to provide a device which is adapted to be secured to a sewing machine or sewing table to hold cloth which is being ripped.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simpleand effective clamp which will effectively hold the cloth against movement and still permit the same to be touched in order that the user may proceed with the ripping.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which may be easily and cheaply constructed from sheet metal which may be bent to the desired form.

l/Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts which will be fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a side view of a clamp constructed in accordance with this invention showing the same attached to a table or sewing machine, Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing' the interior construction of the clamp.

Referring now to the drawings by characters of reference, the numeral 1 designates the table top or sewing machine top to which the clamp, designated generally by the numeral 2, is secured. This clamp 2 comprises the rigid U-shaped member 3 which is formed of a flat piece of metal and is provided with the aperture 4 nearthe end of one of the arms. The aperture 4 is preferably screw threaded and is arranged to receive the thumb screw 5, the use of which will appear as the description proceeds.

A suitable U-shaped spring 6 having one of its arms bent inwardly as at 7'and the terminal thereof turned outwardly as at 8, is provided. The spring extends a distance beyond the adjacent extremity of rigid U- shaped member 3 and carries a pair of upstanding ears 9, which are arranged to receive the pivot pin 10, the use of which will appear as the description proceeds. Formed laterally of the U-shaped spring 6 are the extensions 11, which are arranged to be bent around the body portion 3 to firmly hold the spring in place.

The cloth clamp, which is carried by the stretcher hereinbefore mentioned, preferably comprises the body portion 12 having the depending ears 13 formed at one end. These ears 13 are provided with suitable apertures through which the pin 10 extends and pivotally holds the clamp member in place. Theend of the clamp member is slightly extended and is arranged to form a surface against which the arm 14 of the spring, which is designated generally by the numeral 15, rests. The spring 15 is substantially U-shaped and the medial portion thereof is confined between the pivot pin 10 and the adjacent end of the rigid U-shaped member 3, the free ends of the spring being engaged with the adjacent extremities of the body portion 12 and the U-shaped spring 6, so as to normally hold the body portion 12 against the U-shaped member 3, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1.

In order to prevent the device from injurlng the material upon which it is being used, there are provided the rubber pads 16 and 17 which are carried by the clamp member 12 and the body portion 3 respectively. These rubber pads are preferably slightly countersunk beneath the surface of the respective members in order that they will be more firmly secured in place.

It will be evident from the foregoing that in use the U-shaped body portion 3 is slipped over the edge of the table or sewing machine top in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1 and the thumb screw 5 is then turned so as to press the inward extension 7 of the spring 6 against the under side of the table top and thereby firmly hold the device in place. The jaw member 12 is then raised and the material which is to be ripped is slipped thereunder and the jaw member permitted to descend, and thus through the action of the spring 15, it will be seen that the material which is being ripped is firmly clamped in place and both hands of the user may be left free to be used for any desired purpose.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that such changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as will fall Within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Haring thus described my invention, I claim:

A clamp comprising a rigid U-shaped body including spaced parallel arms, a U- shaped spring engaged in the rigid U-shaped member and including a pair of spaced parallel members, means carried by one of the arms of the body for forcing the adjacent spring member into engagement with a support to secure the clamp thereon, the free end of the other member of the spring extending beyond the other arm of the body, upstanding ears formed on the extended end of the spring member outwardly of the adjacent end of the U-shaped body, a clamping plate, a pin pivotally securing said clamping plate to said ears, and a U-shaped spring confined between said pin and the adjacent end of the rigid U-shaped member for yieldably holding the clamping plate in engagement With the adjacent arm of the rigid U-shaped body.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ANDREW J. BROLING. lVitnesses A. G. JOHNSON, A. P. OBERG.

Copies of this patent may be ohtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

